Civilian Targeting as Interaction Ritual: Evidence from Insurgent Groups in Cross-National Perspective

Abstract

Abstract Why do some insurgent groups target civilians, while others show more restraint? Whereas the majority of the literature on this topic has focused on strategic relations with civilians, in this paper the authors emphasize the role of internal group processes in influencing civilian targeting. Specifically, they argue that insurgent groups sanction violence against civilians as a means of socializing recruits that enter without preexisting ties and commitments, as is likely the case with forced recruits. The authors frame such socialization as an interaction ritual in order to understand how violence can play a role in transforming identities and building shared norms in this process. Using data drawn from two existing sources, they employ a number of statistical procedures. The authors test the extent to which forced recruitment leads to a higher number of civilian casualties for the rebel group in question – an important focus for scholars focusing on unit cohesion. Results from this analysis confirm theoretical expectations that low levels of cohesion are related to higher counts of civilian casualties.